Research summary
Advances in DNA sequencing, synthesis and parts assembly have revolutionized the way biological systems are characterized and engineered. This has led to exciting opportunities to harness them to address global challenges. At the same time, systems approaches to modelling biology have made it possible for scientists to integrate large-scale genomic data sets to better understand the metabolic networks that drive cellular functions. These systems have uses in energy, the environment and medicine.
Dr. Radhakrishnan Mahadevan, Canada Research Chair in Metabolic Systems Engineering, is focusing on the use of these metabolic systems in medicine, working on new ways to analyze and engineer them. Ultimately, he and his research team hope their work will enable the production of bio-nylon and probiotics to treat inflammatory bowel disease.